The Smiths of Canajoharie, New York, descend paternally from a Scotch ancestor, while their maternal line traces to early days in Connecticut and one of its prominent families, the Sheldons. George Smith was a leather merchant of Stockbridge, Scotland. In 1782 he came to the United States with his wife and two children. He took the oath of allegiance, October 10, 1786. He married Mary Baird, and had sons, George and Adam.
(II) Adam, son of George and Mary (Baird) Smith, was born in Connecticut, 1789, died in the town of Glen, Montgomery county, New York, December 1, 1833. He was a merchant of Glen and Charlestown, Montgomery county, and conducted a successful business. He was a Whig in politics and prominent in local affairs of that party. He married, November 15, 1812, Elizabeth Sheldon, born in Connecticut, December 28, 1785, died October 3, 1838. Children:
- George, born September 2, 1813;
- Eliza,
- Sarah,
- Diantha,
- Julia,
- William,
- Benjamin,
- Adam.
(III) Benjamin, son of Adam and Eliza (Sheldon) Smith, was born in the town of Charlestown, Montgomery county, New York, June 17, 1824, died December 12, 1884. He worked with his father until he was seventeen years of age and then engaged with Elias Stilwell as clerk in his general store at Fort Plain, New York. In 1848 Mr. Stilwell started a branch store in Canajoharie, admitted Mr. Smith as partner, giving him full charge of the business of Smith & Company; in 1857 Mr. Stilwell retired and Adam Smith joined his brother, the firm then becoming B. & A. Smith. In 1859 the brothers joined with James Arkell in the manufacture of paper and cotton bags under the name of Arkell & Smith. In 1865 the business had reached such proportions that Benjamin gave up his dry goods business and henceforth devoted all his time to the manufacturing business of Arkell & Smith. In 1884 the business was incorporated as Arkell & Smith Manufacturing Company with James Arkell, president, Benjamin Smith, secretary, and Adam Smith, treasurer. Benjamin Smith was an accomplished, cultured gentleman, a successful business man and distinguished for integrity and fair dealing. He was a trustee and member of the English Lutheran church, to which he was a liberal contributor. In politics a Republican, giving little attention to public affairs beyond those concerning and interesting him locally. He was honored and beloved in his village and highly esteemed as a man of business. He married, December 23, 1852, Emeline F., born September 5, 1829, daughter of Rev. William N. Scholl, granddaughter of John Scholl, and great-granddaughter of Philip Scholl, who came from Germany in 1760 and settled in Hanover, York county, Pennsylvania. John Scholl, son of the emigrant, married Catherine Mace. Rev. William N. Scholl was born on his father's farm in Pennsylvania and followed the occupation of a farmer until after his marriage. He then attended the Theological School at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he passed three years. He was ordained to the ministry, 1836, preached for four years in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and in May, 1840, came to Canajoharie, where he established the English Lutheran congregation in that village. The congregation worshipped in a wooden building obtained for that purpose until 1870, when the present stone structure was erected. Rev. Mr. Scholl was a well-beloved minister and pastor and accomplished great good for his Master's cause. He married, in 1828, Henrietta, daughter of Dr. Henry C. and Anna Maria (Ebert) Wampler. Anna Maria was a daughter of Michael Ebert, who came to York county, Pennsylvania, from Würtemburg, Germany, in 1742. Children of Benjamin and Emeline F. (Scholl) Smith:
- William N., of whom further.
- Anna McClure, born May 14, 1856, died March 13, 1901; married Charles G. Pettit; children:
- William Smith, married Florence Coddington, September 26, 1882;
- James G., twin of William Smith.
- Edward Scholl, born December 7, 1859, married Jessie M. Ford.
- Dr. Joseph, prepared for the medical profession and practiced for a while in San Antonio, Texas.
- Henrietta, born February 2, 1865, died June 3, 1894; married James Ernest Crofton Pedder.
(III) Adam (2), youngest son of Adam (1) and Elizabeth (Sheldon) Smith, was born in the town of Glen, Montgomery county, New York, March 17, 1826. He was educated in the public school and Fairfield Academy, and began his business career as a clerk in a store at Fultonville, New York. His subsequent career is given in sketch of his brother. Adam Smith married, in 1859, Catherine, born May 1, 1886 [1826?], daughter of John and Margaret (Lasher) Van Slyke, of Canajoharie, and granddaughter of Samuel and Katherine (Mitchell) Van Slyke. Children:
- Elizabeth S., married Preston K. Yates, a civil engineer of New York City;
- Lydia K., married William H. Bain;
- George H., now deceased, served as assistant treasurer of Arkell & Smith Manufacturing Company.
(IV) William N., son of Benjamin and Emeline F. (Scholl) Smith, was born January 22, 1854. He was educated in the public schools and at Hartwick Seminary. He then entered the mechanical engineering department of Cornell University, graduated class of 1874. He at once associated with his father in the manufacturing business of the firm of Arkell Smith, and at the death of Benjamin Smith succeeded him as secretary of the company, a position he now fills (1910). He has always taken an active interest in village affairs and is one of the moving spirits and a member of the original committee of citizens who inaugurated the movement for supplying Canajoharie with a permanent and pure supply of water. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He married, September 17, 1884, Sophia E., born December 20, 1859, daughter of Alonzo and Elizabeth (Record) Peck, who had three children:
- Hattie, married Marcus Allen;
- Sophia E., married William N. Smith;
- Louise, died in infancy.
Alonzo is the son of Josiah Peck. Children of William N. and Sophia E. Smith:
- Roger P., born May 7, 1895;
- Marion Frances, January 12, 1898.